Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 But I hope 1in the Lord Jesus to asend bTimothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.

20 For I have no one else aof kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

21 For they all aseek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

22 But you know aof his proven worth, that bhe served with me in the furtherance of the gospel clike a child serving his father.

23 aTherefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;

24 and aI trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.

25 But I thought it necessary to send to you aEpaphroditus, my brother and bfellow worker and cfellow soldier, who is also your 1dmessenger and aminister to my need;

26 because he was longing 1for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.

29 aReceive him then in the Lord with all joy, and bhold men like him in high regard;

30 because he came close to death 1afor the work of Christ, risking his life to bcomplete 2what was deficient in your service to me.